Valve assembly

ABSTRACT

A valve assembly adapted to be mounted on a support panel through an opening in the panel. The assembly comprises a control valve having positioning means for engaging the inner surface of a support panel, irrespective of the degree at which the support panel may be angled. A locking sleeve or collar is provided for the assembly to enable the control valve to be secured on the panel. One end of the locking sleeve or collar is shaped to enable it to make flush contact with the outer surface of the support panel at the opening therethrough. Locking means are provided to maintain the positioning means and the locking sleeve or collar in locked engagement on the support panel.

United States Patent Kersten, Jr. et a1.

[ VALVE ASSEMBLY [72] Inventors: Samuel D. Kersten, Jr., Highland Park;Alton F. Sautter, Chicago; John M. Simon, Downers Grove, all of 111.

[73] Assignee: Water Saver Faucet Co., Chicago,

221 Filed: Sept. 30, 1971 211 Appl.No.: 185,156

52 U.S.CI ..l37/356,4/l9l 511 1111.01 ..Fl6l5/00 581 Field of Search...4/191, 192; 137/356, 359,360

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS France ..4/191 Noland ..4/191 [451 Oct. 11, 1912 PrimaryExaminer-Henry T. Klinksiek Assistant Examiner-GeraldA. MichalskyAttorney-Wallenstein, Spangenberg, l-lattis & Strampel [57] ABSTRACT Avalve assembly adapted to be mounted on a support panel through anopening in the panel. The assembly comprises a control valve havingpositioning means for engaging the inner surface of a support panel,irrespective of the degree at which the support panel may be angled. Alocking sleeve or collar is provided for the assembly to enable thecontrol valve to be secured on the panel. One end of the locking sleeveor collar is shaped to enable it to make flush contact with the outersurface of the support panel at the opening 1 therethrough. Lockingmeans are provided to maintain the positioning means and the lockingsleeve or collar in locked engagement on the support panel.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDUBT 17 I972 3,698,421

INVENTDRS ALTON F SAUTTER JOHN M. SIMON ATTYS.

SAMUEL o. KERSTEN, JR.

VALVE ASSEMBLY jThepresent invention relates to a valve assemblyadaptedto be mounted on a support panel, especially a slanted supportpanel, in remote relation to the fixture to which the valve assembly isconnected. h

In many areas of use, it is advantageous to mount a control valve forwater, steam, gas, air, vacuum, or the like, at a position which isremote from the fixture to which the control valve is connected. Onesuch area of use is in laboratories where it is a common practice tocarry out chemical reactions, for example, within an exhaust or fumehood. In the usual case, the fixtures are positioned within the hood,and the control valves extend-through openings in a panel at the frontof the hood. The outer face of the panel desirably has impressed upon itindicia to identify the substance which flowsthrough the control valvesto the fixtures, and the panel preferably will be slanted, usually at anangle of 30 or 45, to enable an operator to more easily and readily readthe indicia and to locate the control valve desired. The control valvesin such an arrangement are not angled to conform to the angulation orslant of the panel, but, instead, are positioned in a horizontal plane.Thus, the angle formed by the control valve with the front or outer faceof the slanted panel is different than that formed with the rear orinner face of the slanted panel. This difference in the angle formedbetween the control valve and the inner and outer faces of the slantedpanel makes it difficult to secure the control valves on the panel in amanner whereby the valves will be held in a fixed, rigid position inrelation to'the panel,

while at the same time providing an arrangement which will have afinished, attractive appearance, and which, more importantly, willafford protection against damage to the body of each of the valvesmounted on the panel.

In accordance with the present invention, a valve assembly is providedwhich overcomes all of the aforestated difficulties. The valve assemblyof this invention, apart from enabling a control valve to be rigidly andsecurely mounted on a support panel slanted at any desired angle,provides excellent protection for the body of the mounted control valvewhile concomitantly providing a control valve-support panel arrangementwhich is highly attractive and easy to maintain. The valve assemblyfurthermore, can be used in conjunction with standard water valves forhot and cold water service, or with needle valves for regulating steam,gas, air, vacuum, or the like.

Briefly, a preferred embodiment of the valve assembly of this inventioncomprises a control valve having a body portion formed to provide aninlet and an outlet at one end thereof, and a valve stem receivingchamber at the other end thereof. Control valve positioning means isprovided on the body portion for engaging the inner surface of a supportpanel, irrespective of the angle at which the panel may be slanted. The

control valve is secured on the support panel by removable valve bodylocking means which includes a locking sleeve or collar and a lockingnut or ring carried on the body portion of the control valve. One end ofthe locking sleeve or collar is shaped at an angle to enable it to liein flush contact with the outer surface of the support panel at thecontrol valve receiving opening thereof. The locking nut or ring acts tomaintain the positioning means and the shaped end of thelocking sleevein flush contact with the support panel, and, in cooperationwith thelocking sleeve or collar, provides protection for that portion of thecontrol valve body not concealed by the support'panel. The assemblyenables the control valve to be rigidly and securely mounted with itslongitudinal axis in a horizontal plane, and positions the handle of thecontrol valve within ready and easy reach of an operator, therebyfacilitating accurate regulation of material flow from a fixtureconnected to the panel mounted control valve.

The foregoing, and other features and advantages of the invention willbe more fully understood from the following detailed description whenread in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein: I

FIG. 1 is a side view in elevation, partly in section and partly brokenaway, of a typical remote control valve arrangement employing anembodiment of the valve assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side inelevation, partly in section, showing an embodimentof the valve assembly mounted on a support panel slanted at an angle ofapproximately 30 to the longitudinal axis of the control valve of theassembly.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view, partly in section and partly broken away, ofsaid embodiment of the assembly of FIG. 2 taken substantially along line3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of an embodiment of the locking sleeveor collar of the assembly; and

FIG. 5 is a side view in elevation, partly in section, showing anembodiment of the valve assembly mounted on a support panel slanted atan angle of approximately 45 to the longitudinal axis of the controlvalve of the assembly.

In the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawing, thevalve assembly 10 comprises a control valve 12 having a body portion 14.The body portion 14 has an internally threaded inlet .16 and aninternally threaded outlet 18 formed at one end thereof for receivingnipples 20-20. The body portion 14 further is provided with a valvechamber (not shown) in which is positioned a valve seat (also notshown). The valve chamber receives a valve stem 22, one end of whichcarries a valve member (not shown). The valve stem 22 is secured on thebody portion 14 by a valve chamber closure member 24 having externalthreads at each end thereof. A valve stem packing nut 26, which isthreaded onto the closure member 24, and a control handle 28 areprovided for the valve stem 22. The valve seat and the valve stemadvantageously are of the standard type used in connection withconventional control valves.

The body portion 14 of the control valve 12 of the assembly 10 is formedwith a pair of lateral, outwardly extending, substantially cylindricalpositioning bosses or arms 30-30, the function of which will be madeclear as the description proceeds. The body portion 14, at its valvestem receiving end, has external threads 14a, and carries asubstantially cylindrically shaped locking sleeve or collar 32 and aninternally threaded locking unit or ring 34. As shown, the inner end 32aof the sleeve or collar 32 is shaped, beveled or formed at an angle, thepurpose of which also will become clear as the description proceeds.

As indicated hereinabove, the valve assembly of the present inventionhas particular utility in connection with slanted support panels of thetype used, for example, to support control valves in remote relation tothe fixtures connected to the valves. Typical of structures employingslanted support panels for this purpose are fume hoods.

In FIGS. 1-3 of the drawing, a remote control valve arrangement is shownutilizing an embodiment of the valve assembly of this invention. Thesupport panel 40, which is slanted at an angle of approximately 30 tohorizontal, is provided with an opening 40a therethrough for receivingthe externally threaded end of the body portion 14 of the control valve12. As shown, the positioning bosses or arms 30-30 make edge contactwith the inner surface of the panel 40. In this connection, it should bepointed out that the rounded configuration ofthe bosses or arms 3030enables them to establish edge contact with the surface of a supportpanel irrespective of the degree to which the panel is slanted orangled. The correspondingly beveled end 32a of the locking sleeve orcollar 32, in turn, lies in flush contact with the outer surface of thesupport panel 40 at the opening 40a therethrough. The bosses or arms30-30 and the sleeve or collar 32 are maintained in rigid contact withthe outer surface of the panel 40 by the locking nut or ring 34 which isthreaded along the externally threaded end of the body portion 14 intotight engagement with the outer or nonbeveled end of the sleeve orcollar 32. The cooperative action of the bosses or arms 3030, thelocking sleeve or collar 32 and the locking nut or ring 34 thuslyenables the control valve 12 to be securely mounted on the panel 40 withthe longitudinal axis of the control valve in a horizontal plane. Thesleeve or collar 32 and the nut or ring 34 further serve to protect thatportion of the body of the control valve 12 which is not concealed bythe panel 40, and, in addition, impart a finished, at-

tractive appearance to the installation.

As best seen in FIG. 1, nipples 2020 can be threaded into the inlet 16and the outlet 18 of the control valve, and the valve then can beconnected to a remotely located fixture 50 with conventional plumbing 52in the usual manner. More than one valve assembly can, of course, bemounted on a single support panel, each of the control valves comprisingthe assembly in such an arrangement serving to regulate lfixtures forhot and cold water, steam, gas, vacuum, air, or the like.

In the embodiment of the assembly shown in FIG. 5, the support panel 60is slanted at an angle of approximately 45. The locking sleeve or collar62 .of the assembly, correspondingly, has the panel contacting end 62athereof shaped, beveled or formed at an angle to enable it, as in thecase of the sleeve or collar 32, to lie in flush contact with the outersurface of the panel 60 at the opening 60d therethrough. At statedhereinabove, the panel contacting end of the locking sleeve or collar ofthe assembly can be shaped at any desired angle to enable it to makeflush contact with the outer surface of the support panel on which thecontrol valve of the assembly is-to be mounted.

It should be understood that the embodiments shown and described indetail above are only-exemplary, and

. that various modifications can be made in construction and arrangementwithin the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A valve assembly adapted to be mounted on a slanted support panelthrough an opening therein, comprising a control valve having a bodyportion formed to provide an inlet and outlet at one end thereof andvalve stem receiving means at the other end thereof, control valvepositioning means provided on said body portion for engaging oneface ofa slanted support panel, and valve body locking means carried by thebody portion of the valve for securing the valve on the slanted supportpanel, said valve body locking means including a locking sleeve havingan opening therethrough to enable it to be carried on the body portionof the valve, one end of said locking sleeve being slanted to enable itto lie in flush contact with the other face of the slanted support panelwhereby the panel will be positioned between the positioning means andthe locking sleeve and the control valve will be rigidly mounted on thepanel. I

2. A valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein the control valvepositioning means comprises a pair of lateral, outwardly extending,cylindrically shaped arms capable of making edge contact with a surfaceof a support panel irrespective of the angle at which the support panelis slanted.

3. A valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein the valve body lockingmeans also includes an internally threaded locking nut for maintainingthe slanted end of the locking sleeve in flush engagement with thesurface of the support panel.

4. A valve assembly according to claim 3 wherein the body portion of thecontrol valve is provided with external threads to receive the lockingnut.

5. A valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein the locking sleeve hasa length sufficient to overlie that area of the body portion of thecontrol valve on which the locking sleeve is carried thereby to provideprotection against damage for said area of the body portion.

6. A valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein the locking sleeve isslidably engaged on the body portion of the control valve to enable thesleeve to be readily moved toward or away from the support panel.

7. A valve assembly adapted to be mounted on a support panel through anopening therein, comprising a control valve having a body portion formedto provide an inlet and outlet at one end thereof and valve stemreceiving means at the other end thereof, control valve positioningmeans provided on said body portion for engaging one face of a supportpanel, and removable valve body locking means carried by the bodyportion of the control valve for securing the control valve on thesupport panel, said valve body locking means including a locking sleevehaving an opening therethrough to enable it to be carried on the bodyportion of the control valve, one end of said locking sleeve beingadapted to lie in flush contact with the other face of the panel wherebythe panel will be positioned between the positioning means and thelocking sleeve, and the control valve will be rigidly mounted on thepanel.

8. A panel mounted remote control valve assembly, comprising a supportpanel having an inner and an outer face and an opening therethrough forreceiving a control valve, a control valve having a body portion whichis received in the opening through the support panel, said' body portionbeing formed to provide an inlet and an outlet at one end thereof andhaving valve stem receiving means at the other end thereof,- laterallyextending, substantially cylindrical control valve positioning meansprovided on said body portion for making edge contact with the innerface of the support panel, valve body locking means carried by the bodyportion of the valve for securing the valve on the support panel, saidvalve body locking means including a locking sleeve having an openingtherethrough to enable it to be carried on the body portion of thecontrol valve, one end of said locking sleeve being formed to enable itto lie in flush contact with the outer face of the support panel,alocking ring for urging and maintaining the said one end of the lockingsleeve in flush contact with the outer face of the support panel, and

connector means for the body portion of the control valve for connectingthe inlet of the control valve to a supply line for water, steam, gas,air, vacuum, or the like, and the outlet of the control valve to afixture remotely located with relation to the control valve.

9. An assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein the support panel isslanted and the control valve is mounted thereon with its longitudinalaxis in a horizontal plane, the locking sleeve having the panel engagingend thereof slanted to correspond to the degree of slant of the panel toenable said end of the sleeve to lie in flush contact with the outerface of the panel at the opening therethrough.

1. A valve assembly adapted to be mounted on a slanted support panelthrough an opening therein, comprising a control valve having a bodyportion formed to provide an inlet and outlet at one end thereof andvalve stem receiving means at the other end thereof, control valvepositioning means provided on said body portion for engaging one face ofa slanted support panel, and valve body locking means carried by thebody portion of the valve for securing the valve on the slanTed supportpanel, said valve body locking means including a locking sleeve havingan opening therethrough to enable it to be carried on the body portionof the valve, one end of said locking sleeve being slanted to enable itto lie in flush contact with the other face of the slanted support panelwhereby the panel will be positioned between the positioning means andthe locking sleeve and the control valve will be rigidly mounted on thepanel.
 2. A valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein the controlvalve positioning means comprises a pair of lateral, outwardlyextending, cylindrically shaped arms capable of making edge contact witha surface of a support panel irrespective of the angle at which thesupport panel is slanted.
 3. A valve assembly according to claim 1wherein the valve body locking means also includes an internallythreaded locking nut for maintaining the slanted end of the lockingsleeve in flush engagement with the surface of the support panel.
 4. Avalve assembly according to claim 3 wherein the body portion of thecontrol valve is provided with external threads to receive the lockingnut.
 5. A valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein the locking sleevehas a length sufficient to overlie that area of the body portion of thecontrol valve on which the locking sleeve is carried thereby to provideprotection against damage for said area of the body portion.
 6. A valveassembly according to claim 1 wherein the locking sleeve is slidablyengaged on the body portion of the control valve to enable the sleeve tobe readily moved toward or away from the support panel.
 7. A valveassembly adapted to be mounted on a support panel through an openingtherein, comprising a control valve having a body portion formed toprovide an inlet and outlet at one end thereof and valve stem receivingmeans at the other end thereof, control valve positioning means providedon said body portion for engaging one face of a support panel, andremovable valve body locking means carried by the body portion of thecontrol valve for securing the control valve on the support panel, saidvalve body locking means including a locking sleeve having an openingtherethrough to enable it to be carried on the body portion of thecontrol valve, one end of said locking sleeve being adapted to lie inflush contact with the other face of the panel whereby the panel will bepositioned between the positioning means and the locking sleeve, and thecontrol valve will be rigidly mounted on the panel.
 8. A panel mountedremote control valve assembly, comprising a support panel having aninner and an outer face and an opening therethrough for receiving acontrol valve, a control valve having a body portion which is receivedin the opening through the support panel, said body portion being formedto provide an inlet and an outlet at one end thereof and having valvestem receiving means at the other end thereof, laterally extending,substantially cylindrical control valve positioning means provided onsaid body portion for making edge contact with the inner face of thesupport panel, valve body locking means carried by the body portion ofthe valve for securing the valve on the support panel, said valve bodylocking means including a locking sleeve having an opening therethroughto enable it to be carried on the body portion of the control valve, oneend of said locking sleeve being formed to enable it to lie in flushcontact with the outer face of the support panel, a locking ring forurging and maintaining the said one end of the locking sleeve in flushcontact with the outer face of the support panel, and connector meansfor the body portion of the control valve for connecting the inlet ofthe control valve to a supply line for water, steam, gas, air, vacuum,or the like, and the outlet of the control valve to a fixture remotelylocated with relation to the control valve.
 9. An assembly as claimed inclaim 8 wherein the support panel is slanted and the control valve ismouNted thereon with its longitudinal axis in a horizontal plane, thelocking sleeve having the panel engaging end thereof slanted tocorrespond to the degree of slant of the panel to enable said end of thesleeve to lie in flush contact with the outer face of the panel at theopening therethrough.